Catholic leaders praise Benedict XVI, expect much from him

Mumbai – Indian Catholic leaders have heaped praises on the new Pope, calling him an “intellectual giant,” a “humble person” and a “man of profound faith.”

Convinced that the new pontiff will lead the Church in the world to the rediscovery of Christ, Bishop Percival Fernandez, Auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai and Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), said, “I met Pope Benedict XVI in Rome two years ago at the time of our ad limina visit. It was my first personal meeting with him and my first two strong impressions were: first, that he was an intellectual giant; and, second, that he was a humble person.”

For the bishop, “both qualities are necessary to be the leader of the Catholic Church which transcends all boundaries” and to face “many challenges.”

According to the bishop, it is possible for the new Pope, who is “theologically and intellectually competent to lead the Universal Church in the globalised world of the 21st century,” to help de–Christianized Europe rediscover its Christian roots.

“Benedict XVI,” Bishop Fernandez believes, “will usher in an era of Christianisation of Europe as well as the rest of the world with the assurances given by Christ Himself.”

“I am not disappointed that someone from the Third World was not chosen. Pope Benedict XVI is the right man for the times, a proponent of the Second Vatican Council and someone who will continue the policies of John Paul II.”

“The election of this Pope is the most suitable choice for the Catholic world,” said Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Agra Archdiocese and the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).

“Benedict XVI is the answer to a need of modern times, even as a means of continuity following the pontificate of John Paul II. The new Pope worked with Pope Wojtyla (John Paul II) for years, and he played a fundamental role in the preparation of many theological and doctrinal documents,” he said, assured that the new pontiff will be of great help to the Catholic Church in India.

“I met Cardinal Ratzinger several times and in one of our last meetings – around a year ago – he expressed a great interest in our country. His exact words were, ‘India’s spiritual values are in keeping with Gospel values’,” he said. “The truth is that Benedict XVI has a profound faith rooted in the Gospel; at the same time, I consider him a man in close contact with ground realities. The election of this man to the papacy is great news for the Catholic Church in India.”

Bishop Thomas Dabre, chairman of the Doctrinal Commission of CBCI and bishop of Vasai – a diocese north of Bombay – said, “I count myself lucky as I met Cardinal Ratzinger on a number of occasions. I consider him as a very reflective person, gifted with great spirituality. As president of the Doctrinal Commission of the CBCI, I feel very supported by his election. He is a theology scholar endowed with a strong faith. He will lead the Catholic Church as a gentle and ardent pastor. The love of Benedict XVI for Christ and for his mission is evident in the words he spoke after his election, ‘God knows how to work even with insufficient instruments’.”